Delusional Bird: Participant Spotlight on Valerie & Veronica Topacio
Today, we’re sitting down with Valerie & Veronica Topacio to talk about their retail vintage shop and community space, Delusional Bird. Through the Seattle Restored pop-up program, their dream of creating space to host meaningful events and provide affordable fashion is a love letter to their upbringing in ’90s Seattle.
Q: Tell us about your business. What inspired your pop-up concept?
Delusional Bird (1503 5th Ave) is a community gathering space where people can shop for affordable and unique vintage and modern fashion. Inspired by our childhood of growing up in a ’90s Seattle, the space is a welcoming display of gallery photos spotlighting local musicians and women in music.
Our hope is that tourists and residents alike are able to feel immersed in the DIY grunge culture of our past, through homemade art displays in the windows and on shelves, with the latest indie mix blaring while patrons shop. At night, you might hear live music playing and see a well-lit establishment hosting all-ages shows, where staff prioritize safety and an alcohol-free community space, where you might discover the next great band coming out of our legendary music city.
Q: Why did you apply for Seattle Restored? how will this opportunity help you reach your goals?
After five years of working year-round at The Fremont Sunday Market and growing our small business vending at markets around the city, we have since dreamed about opening up our very own brick-and-mortar community space. We applied for Seattle Restored because we were so excited about the opportunity to inhabit and create our own space. Not only has Seattle Restored gifted us the opportunity to create community in a dream space, they have helped us navigate and realize our vision of how art and retail can collide, whilst bestowing upon us humbling insights into the realities and sacrifices it takes to own and operate a small business in a changing city and global landscape.
Our future goal is to be able to carry on the torch of having our own space. We hope to continue to build community through activating our space as not only a retail vintage shop, but to create and host meaningful events that bring our community together–whether that be a hosting a rock show for all ages or hosting an art walk–our guiding tenets of music, art, fashion and community will collide. We are currently working towards finding a permanent home.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your business? how do you hope to impact the community?
This work is so incredibly rewarding. We get to meet people traveling all over the world to the city we are so proud to have been born and raised in, we get to meet passionate community members, and be a part of what feels like a global movement to support art, music, and preserving our neighborhood’s culture.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like our blog readers to know about you or your business?
People often ask us where we came up with the name Delusional Bird. Us sisters are musicians and front an indie band called La Fonda. Delusional Bird is actually a song of ours. We started writing it on the back of a piece of mail in 2017 when we were living together in a Belltown Apartment, and it’s featured on our debut record. It’s a reminder to keep giving to our dreams and remains a testament of our endurance in sisterhood and creating spaces that allow us to be our fully actualized and best selves.
Q: Do you have any events or collaborations coming up?
We are so excited to be participating in each Downtown Seattle Artwalk every fourth Friday from 5:00-8:00 pm (next up, May 23rd!).
We’re also hosting SoFar Sounds x Delusional Bird featuring music and AANHPI vendors on Thursday, May 22nd, at our downtown space.
Additionally, we’re hosting open mics, rock shows, and collage nights as well. Stay in touch on our Instagram (@delusionalbirdshop) and our website for upcoming events!
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
Support local businesses and get to know the neighborhoods you live and work in. It is truly up to us to be able to build the vibrant epicenters of community and cultural hubs in our city, so supporting your local businesses and spreading the word about their work and events truly helps bring us all together.
Q: What’s your favorite Seattle Restored activation, and why?
Curvy Cactus is our favorite Seattle Restored pop-up. They are creating community through the Seattle Fat Mall and building a vibrant space that celebrates body positivity. It has been amazing to watch their journey since we both started working Fremont Market at the same time.
Q: Where would you take visitors or a group of friends for a fun, relaxed experience in Seattle?
We would take them to one of our favorite venues in the city, such as The Crocodile or Neumos, and go support a local show–and then we would hit up Ohana, our favorite neighborhood Hawaiian sushi bar downtown, or Honeycourt, our go-to late-night spot in the International District.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
We are looking forward to finishing out our Seattle Restored term while we look for a more long-term space we can work and dream out of.
vISIT Delusional Bird
Address:
1503 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Open hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 11am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Dates: March 28 – June 28, 2025